Garment with pocket having a bottom closure

ABSTRACT

A garment includes at least one pocket having a bottom closure mechanism. The bottom edge portion of the pocket is configured to be either opened or closed according to the desire of the wearer. At the wearer&#39;s discretion the bottom edge of the pocket may be closed so that it may hold personal articles. Also at the wearer&#39;s discretion the bottom edge of the pocket may be deliberately left open so that a hand inserted into the pocket will have access to the interior of the garment.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to pockets in garments.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Typically, to form a pocket in a typical garment, flat fabric panels are joined or sewn to each other at the sides and bottom, with the top left open for access.

The garment pocket may be external or internal. To form an external pocket, an additional fabric panel attached to the outside of the body of the garment. If two additional fabric panels are attached to the inside of the garment body then an internal pocket is formed. An internal pocket may also be formed by a single fabric panel folded over, attached at the sides and bottom thereof, and attached at the top edges thereof to an opening in the body of the garment.

In all cases in the prior art, the fabric panels forming the pocket are sewn together or otherwise joined at the bottom thereof.

The top of the pocket is typically left open. However, the top of the pocket may be sealed by a zipper or a flap which folds over at the top and is joined to the exterior of the garment by a suitable closure mechanism, such as a button and button hole combination, a hook and loop combination (such as Velcro®) or another type of fastener to seal a pocket opening.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a garment includes at least one pocket having a bottom closure mechanism. That is, the closure or seal between the two fabric panels at the bottom edge portion of the pocket is not permanently closed but is instead configured to be either opened or closed. In such manner, the bottom edge of the pocket may be left either open or closed according to the desire of the wearer.

More specifically, at the wearer's discretion, the bottom edge of the pocket may be closed so that it may hold personal articles. In the closed position, the pocket functions to hold personal articles. Further, at the wearer's discretion the bottom edge of the pocket may be deliberately left open so that a hand inserted into the pocket will have access to the wearer inside the garment. The bottom edge closure mechanism may be opened during washing so as to clean the bottom of the pocket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional diagram of garment with an internal pocket having a bottom closure in accordance with the present invention, wherein the pocket is shown in the closed position.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional diagram of garment with an internal pocket having a bottom closure in accordance with the present invention, wherein the pocket is shown in the open position.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional diagram of garment with an external pocket in accordance with the prior art.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional diagram of garment with an external pocket having a bottom closure in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present invention, wherein the pocket is shown in the open position.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional diagram of garment with an external pocket having a bottom closure in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present invention, wherein the pocket is shown in the closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A garment 10 with an internal pocket 24 having a bottom closure mechanism 18, 20 is shown in FIG. 1. In this embodiment, the bottom closure mechanism is a hook and loop fastener (such as a Velcro® fastener). The internal pocket 24 is illustrated in the closed position.

Internal pocket 24 is formed by an outer fabric panel 14 and an inner fabric panel 16 and attached to the garment 10 at the pocket opening 12. The fabric panel 16 is longer than the fabric panel 14 so as to form a flap 22. A strip of loops 20 (or alternatively hooks) is attached to the edge of the flap 22. A complementary strip of hooks 18 (or alternatively loops) is attached to the bottom edge of the fabric panel 14. The internal pocket 24 is closed when the hook and loop fasteners 18, 20 are engaged so that the flap 22 forms the bottom edge of the internal pocket 24.

To open the bottom of the internal pocket 24, hook and loop fasteners 18, 20 are disengaged; the flap 22 extends downward so as to open the pocket, as shown in FIG. 2.

A garment 10B with an external pocket 24B in accordance with the prior art shown in FIG. 3. Stitching the bottom 22B of the external pocket 24B to the garment body 10B permanently seals the bottom of the external pocket 24B. The opening 12B is at the top of the external pocket 24B. The latter type of external pocket construction is typical of many types of jeans.

An alternate embodiment of a garment 10A with an internal pocket 24A having a bottom closure mechanism 18A, 20A in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIG. 4. The bottom closure mechanism is a hook and loop fastener (such as a Velcro® fastener). The internal pocket 24A is illustrated in the open position.

External pocket 24A is formed by an outer fabric panel 14A and a portion 16A the garment body 10A. A flap 22A is attached to the garment body 10A at the bottom of the external pocket 24A. A strip of loops 20A (or alternatively hooks) is attached to the edge of the flap 22A. A complementary strip of hooks 18A (or alternatively loops) is attached to the bottom edge of the fabric panel 14A. As shown in FIG. 5, the external pocket 24A is closed when the hook and loop fasteners 18A, 20A are engaged so that the flap 22A forms the bottom edge of the external pocket 24A.

To open the bottom of the internal pocket 24A, hook and loop fasteners 18A, 20A are disengaged. Then the flap 22A extends downward so as to open the pocket, as shown in FIG. 4. With the flap 22A in the open position, a hand inserted into the pocket opening 12A can slip into the interior of the garment body 10A. 

1. In a garment having a pocket, said pocket having a first opening for accessing the interior of said pocket, wherein the improvement comprises: a second opening within said pocket for accessing the interior of the garment; and a means for permitting the wearer of said garment to seal said second opening.
 2. A garment having a pocket in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for permitting the wearer of said garment to seal said second opening comprises a hook and loop fastener.
 3. A garment having a pocket in accordance with claim 1, wherein said pocket is an internal pocket to said garment.
 4. A garment having a pocket in accordance with claim 1, wherein said pocket is an external pocket to said garment.
 5. A garment having a pocket in accordance with claim 1, wherein said second opening is at the bottom edge of said pocket. 